Entry‑Level R&D Technician – Breakfast Cereal

Broad Exposure Role | Product Development Career Path

Location: Perryville, MO

Department: Cereal Research & Development

This entry‑level R&D role is designed for a recent Food Science graduate who wants hands‑on experience across a wide variety of breakfast cereal products and a clear path into product development.

As an R&D Technician on our Cereal team, you’ll support development work from bench‑scale concepts through pilot plant testing and full‑scale manufacturing trials. This is a true development role, intended to grow into an R&D Technologist position and then Product Developer, based on performance, skills, and interest.

You’ll support a broad portfolio of cereal products and work closely with Product Developers, Technologists, Operations, Quality, and Plant teams.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting new product development and product optimization
• Assisting with bench‑top, pilot plant, and full‑scale plant trials
• Preparing ingredients, batching formulas, operating pilot‑scale equipment, and collecting samples
• Observing and documenting processing conditions and product performance
• Supporting plant trials directly in manufacturing facilities
• Accurately documenting formulas, trial results, and technical observations
• Summarizing data and preparing basic technical reports
• Participating in sensory evaluations and product reviews
• Helping maintain a clean, organized, and food‑safe R&D and pilot plant environment
• Following all food safety, quality, and employee safety standards

This role includes a mix of desk‑based technical work and hands‑on work in pilot plant and production environments.

This position is ideal for someone early in their career who wants broad exposure to cereal product development and how products are manufactured at scale.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Cereal Science, Food Engineering, or a related field
• Internship, co‑op, or academic lab experience preferred, but not required
• Strong interest in product development and food manufacturing
• Comfortable working in office, pilot plant, and manufacturing environments
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to follow procedures
• Ability to clearly document work and communicate with team members

Helpful (But Not Required)

• Exposure to cereal or grain‑based foods
• Pilot plant or manufacturing experience
• Familiarity with food safety or quality systems

This role is intentionally structured as a stepping stone position, not a dead end.

Successful candidates can expect:

• Broad exposure to many cereal products and processes
• Increasing technical responsibility over time
• A clear development path to R&D Technologist and Product Developer
• Mentorship from experienced R&D and Operations professionals
• First‑hand experience translating product ideas into scalable manufacturing processes

• Work in pilot plant and manufacturing environments (noise, heat, dust)
• Occasional lifting of ingredients and materials (up to [XX] lbs)
• Use of required PPE in production areas

We make a wide variety of cereal products—and we intentionally develop people the same way. This role offers a strong foundation for a long‑term career in product development, food manufacturing, and technical leadership.